Unfounded Reports of extreme Profligacy. 277 



land, and particularly a few days since at Bal- 

 linasloe, with gentlemen from different pro- 

 vinces, I have been uniformly assured that 

 these charges are unfounded, and that the 

 parties who have stated them were grossly im- 

 posed on. Examples of profligacy, in this, as 

 in every other large community, undoubtedly 

 may be found ; but as a general characteristic 

 of the people I am persuaded the atrocity has 

 no existence. The truth of these stories has 

 been so frequently and so solemnly denied, and 

 disproved by so many corroborating circum- 

 stances, that I cannot but reject them as utterly 

 unfounded. All the individuals with whom I 

 have conversed on this subject consider it a 

 gross libel on the Irish character. 



In no country are conjugal and parental 

 affections exceeded, more warmly or powerfully 

 felt, or more sincerely and unaffectedly exhibit- 

 ed, than in Ireland : it is these, and these alone, 

 which communicate to the wretched cabin an 

 interest and a charm which recompense the 

 cottier's toil, and compensate all other priva- 

 tions. Is it then possible to credit the existence 

 of such unnatural baseness and dereliction of 

 every virtuous sentiment in characters where 

 the affections of husband and father so con- 

 spicuously predominate ? And among those 



